5 Back-to-School Shopping Tips
It’s time to start buying school supplies - not to mention the clothing, bags and decisions and arguments about brand name or no name products.
If you are a parent buying for your grade school children you’ve been learning the ropes for a few years. However, if your child is new to school or you’re doing your own school shopping for the first time, you can benefit from a heads up on how, what and where to shop.
These five tips will help you save money AND your sanity!
Buy Early
Wait too long and you’re sure to find the shelves empty at all your favorite discount stores. If your biggest concern is getting a good deal, shop early.
There will be plenty of supplies on sale by August. Don’t forget dollar stores for low prices on pens, paper and a myriad of other necessary items.
If you’ve waited too long already your best bet is stationary or office supply stores. While they may not always be the cheapest they’re more likely to keep their supplies in stock. You’ll also save yourself running around since they’re sure to have everything you need.
Buy at Big Box Stores
If you have a few friends that need supplies for their kids (or college buddies) consider buying in bulk at membership stores or other bulk stores.
You may not be able to get everything you need but essentials like paper, pens and the like can be loaded up and split among everyone saving you money.
Buy Through the School
If your school hasn’t already brought in a pre-packaged purchasing system, ask. If each class has a standard package then parents and students can split the costs of the bulk order.
Not only will this mean great savings - it also saves you all the hassle of finding supplies, shopping around or dealing with complaints about brands or colors.
End of Season Clothing
Now’s the time to stock up on summer and sport related clothing. If your child will be taking part in after school activities like swimming or gymnastics you can get a great deal on their gear with end-of-season sales.
Look for double-duty clothes that can be worked into fall and winter wardrobes as well. Skirts worn with thick tights, tank tops worn layered under long sleeve shirts and sweaters or cropped pants tucked into tall boots are all trends that move summer staples into trendy fall and winter wardrobes.
As a note of caution: make sure you’re aware of school dress codes when making fashion choices. Some schools forbid bare shoulders or skirts shorter than a required length.
Finding the Right Bag
Don’t forget the bag! Kids bags are often far too large and heavy for them which leads to sore muscles and even headaches. Always choose a backpack that sits no lower than the waist and look for styles with padded shoulder straps and a waist strap for added support.
Teens and college bound students may prefer the look of hobo bags and slouchy purses, but heavy books are best carried in a backpack that is properly worn. Carrying a backpack on one shoulder is just as damaging as a purse. If you still prefer a sac or bag find one that has a strap that crosses over the body to spread the weight.
Every new school year holds possibilities and excitement. Have fun with back-to-school shopping and try not to stress out!
Back to School Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Summer is quickly coming to an end and parents and children nationwide are preparing for another school year. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding parents to take precautions to keep children safe when they head back to school.
“As you prepare to send your child back to school, parents should arm themselves with important safety tips that can help keep your child in the classroom and out of a hospital emergency room,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord.
Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing - One hazard to watch for is drawstrings on children’s clothing. This hidden hazard can lead to deaths and injuries because drawstrings can catch on such items as playground equipment. Over the past 20 years, CPSC received reports of 23 deaths and 64 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children’s clothing drawstrings.
CPSC recommends that parents or caregivers only buy upper outerwear without hood and neck drawstrings. If you find children’s clothing with drawstrings in your home, completely remove the hood and neck drawstrings from all children’s upper outerwear, including jackets and sweatshirts, size 2T through size 12.
Wear the Right Helmet - Rather than ride the bus, many children ride bikes, scooters and skateboards to school. To reduce the risk of serious head injury or death, children should wear a helmet - and it is important to wear the appropriate helmet for your sport.
About 800 people, approximately 180 children, died in bicycle-related incidents in a recent year. More than half of the 500,000 bicycle-related emergency room-treated injuries in 2005 involved children under the age of 15. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by up to 85 percent.
Look for a label inside the bicycle helmet indicating it meets the CPSC standard. Other sport helmets, including those for skateboarders and football players, have labeling certifying compliance with other standards.
CPSC has a new publication entitled “Which Helmet for Which Activity.” This brochure is a useful guide to parents and includes helmet information on sports kids play at every age level.
Be aware of local laws pertaining to the use of pocket bikes and scooters, and do not ride on streets or in driveways. Many cities and communities have specific areas where scooters are permissible. Other communities prohibit entirely the riding of pocket bikes or motorized scooters.
Here are additional tips from CPSC for Back-to-School Safety:
Playgrounds: Each year, more than 200,000 children are taken to hospital emergency rooms due to playground-related injuries. Most injuries occur when a child falls onto the playground surface.
There should be a layer of safe, shock absorbing surface material, consisting of wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material around playground equipment.
Make sure there is no exposed hardware to catch clothing and no free-hanging ropes attached to the equipment, which could cause strangulation.
For additional information on playground safety, see CPSC’s Handbook for Public Playground Safety.
Soccer Goals: Movable soccer goals can fall over and kill or injure children who climb on them or hang from the crossbar. Over the past 25 years, CPSC has reports of at least 28 deaths associated with soccer goals.
- Make sure soccer goals are securely anchored when in use.
- Never allow children to climb on the soccer net or goal framework.
- When not in use, anchor goals or chain them to a nearby fence post or sturdy framework.
Art Supplies: CPSC has recalled a variety of art materials over the years due to sharp tools; accessible lead in crayons, chalk and paint; and other hazards.
Only buy art materials that contain the statement, “CONFORMS TO ASTM D-4236.” Many states have tax-free holidays prior to schools opening. Take advantage of this time to buy safe clothing and supplies for back to school.
Parents should talk to school officials to make sure the school’s equipment complies with all federal, state and local standards and requirements. In addition, CPSC urges parents and schools to check for recalled products or report a dangerous product or a product-related injury by calling CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov
Recall of Children’s Cooking Set
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: ALEX Super Cooking Sets
Units: About 4,200
Manufacturer: Panline USA Inc., doing business as ALEX, of Northvale, N.J.
Hazard: The glass pot lids can break, posing a laceration hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: ALEX has received a report of a 2 ½ -year-old girl who cut her foot from the broken glass from one of the lids. The cut required stitches.
Description and Models: This recall involves children’s Super Cooking Sets, a 12-piece stainless steel set with miniature pots that have clear glass lids. Each set comes with a pasta pot with glass lid, stockpot with glass lid, frying pan, two potholders and utensils. The cooking sets were sold in a white box with a clear plastic window. “ALEX” and “Super Cooking Set” are printed on the box. A red sticker labeled “unbreakable glass” is affixed to the pot lids. Cooking sets manufactured after April 1, 2006 have stainless steel lids and are not included in this recall.
Sold at: Discount department and specialty toy stores nationwide from September 2005 through April 2006 for about $20.
Manufactured In: China
Remedy: Consumers should take the glass lids away from children immediately and contact ALEX to receive a free replacement lid set.
Consumer Contact: For more information, call ALEX at (800) 666-2539 from 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email the firm at recall@alextoys.com
To view this release online, please go to our web site at: cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06226.html
